Magnolia plant named &#39;JURmag2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Magnolia named ‘Felix’ comprised of strong plant growth, upright and open; flowering as a young plant within 2 years of planting out, a long heavy flowering season; strongly fragrant individual flowers lasting about 9 days; ovate and large buds; external surface is typically pubescent and dark grey in colour, opening in a typical manner of all deciduous Magnolias; leaves which are a lighter green and slightly paler underneath than most Magnolia varieties and are smooth on top and lightly pubescent underneath; and the tree can set heavily with very large pods and many seeds.

[0001] Latin Name of the Genus and Species of the Plant Claimed:

[0002] Magnolia Soulangeana

[0003] Variety Denomination:

[0004] Felix

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMagnolia Soulangeana referred to by the variety denomination ‘Felix’.

[0006] The new cultivar was isolated by the inventor Mark C. Jury atNorth Taranaki in New Zealand, by seedling selection followingcontrolled pollination of the maternal parent Magnolia ‘Atlas’(unpatented) with the paternal parent Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ (unpatented).The cross was made in 1986. The new cultivar was selected from theprogeny of the stated cross by the inventor with the selection beingprimarily on the basis of flower color and form.

[0007] Following selection of the seedling, the cultivar was grown fromcuttings propagated vegetatively by grafting. Following severalgenerations of propagated cuttings, uniformity and stability of theselected characteristics was observed. Horticultural examination of thepresent cultivar has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics herein disclosed for Magnolia ‘Felix’ are firmly fixedand are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

[0008] The following table of characteristics indicates the manner inwhich the new cultivar is distinct from both Magnolia ‘Atlas’ andMagnolia ‘Vulcan’. TABLE 1 Paternal Parent Maternal Parent MagnoliaMagnolia Felix Magnolia ‘Atlas’ ‘Vulcan’ Flower Color Rosy Pink to DarkPale lilac and Wine Red Rosy Red Cream Flower Shape Goblet Shape CupShape Flower Size 30 cm 37.5 cm Flower Head size to 30 cm diameter to 20cm diameter Flower Petal size Large Medium Plant Size Stout Tree 7 toTaller Tree to 8 m 12 m Tree Shape Stout pyramidical Rounded shapeGrowth Habit Finer Growth Single Trunk More Open Habit, More dense

[0009] Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ is the closest comparison variety known to theapplicant, but is quite different as noted in Table 1 above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of Magnolia ‘Felix’, which incombination distinguish this Magnolia Soulangeana as a new and distinctcultivar:

[0011] 1. Plant growth is strong, upright and open;

[0012] 2. Flowers as a young plant within 2 years of planting out, witha long heavy flowering season;

[0013] 3. Individual flowers are strongly fragrant, and last about 9days;

[0014] 4. Buds are ovate and large; external surface is typicallypubescent and dark grey in colour, opening in a typical manner of alldeciduous Magnolias;

[0015] 5. Leaf of the plant is a lighter green and slightly palerunderneath than most Magnolia varieties and is smooth on top and lightlypubescent underneath; and

[0016] 6. The tree can set heavily with very large pods and many seeds.

[0017] The following observations, measurements, and values describe thenew cultivar as grown in Silvan, Victoria, Australia under conditionswhich approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying color photographic drawings show the uniquecharacteristics of the new cultivar Magnolia ‘Felix’, with colors asaccurate as is possible with color photographs. The first photographicdrawing shows a top view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Felix’. Thesecond photographic drawing shows a top view of an individualinflorescence of ‘Felix’, emphasizing the petal.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0019] Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (RHS) except where general colors of ordinary significanceare used. Colors are approximate as color depends on horticulturalpractices such as light level and fertilization rate among other things.

ORIGIN

[0020] Seedling from breeding program.

PARENTAGE

[0021] Maternal parent — Magnolia hybrid ‘Atlas’.

[0022] Paternal parent — Magnolia hybrid ‘Vulcan’.

PROPAGATION

[0023] Plants have been selected from the original seedling andpropagated vegetatively by grafting in New Zealand

PLANT

[0024] Growth rate: Strong growth rate. Flowers as young plant within 2years of planting out.

[0025] Length of flowering season: Long.

[0026] Time of flowering season: Medium.

[0027] Density: Open.

[0028] Growth type: Pyramidial.

[0029] Height: 7 m.

[0030] Width: 4 m.

[0031] Stem diameter: 250 mm.

LEAF

[0032] Color: RHS Yellow Green Group — 146B; underside of leaf issightly paler.

[0033] Length: 250 mm.

[0034] Width: 200 mm.

[0035] Apex: Acuminate.

[0036] Margin: Entire.

[0037] Texture: Smooth on top, lightly pubescent underneath.

[0038] Shape: Ovate.

[0039] Petiole: 30 mm in length; RHS Yellow/Green Group — 146C.

STEM

[0040] Branching arrangement: Open.

[0041] Surface texture: Smooth.

[0042] Lenticels: 2-3 mm (small); RHS Yellow Group — 11D.

FLOWER

[0043] Length of flowering period: Long.

[0044] Number of flowers: Many.

[0045] Floret length: 200 mm.

[0046] Lastingness of bloom: Approximately 9 days.

[0047] Fragrance of bloom: Typical fragrance of Magnolia but stronger.

[0048] Flower profile upper: Flat.

[0049] Flower profile lower: Convex.

[0050] Color midzone outside: RHS Rose Red.

[0051] Midzone inside: RHS Rose Red.

[0052] Margin inside: RHS Rose Red.

[0053] Buds:

[0054]Bud shape.—Ovate.

[0055] Petals:

[0056]Number of petals.—12.

[0057]Petal size.—Large.

[0058]Petal width.—150 mm.

[0059]Petal arrangement.—Overlapping.

[0060] Pistils:

[0061]Style color.—Rose Red.

[0062] Seed vessel characteristics:

[0063]Size.—Large.

[0064]Color.—Red.

1. A new and distinct magnolia plant named ‘Felix’, as illustrated anddescribed herein.